The emergence of Hurricane Earl, which may affect our weather this weekend, coincides with the first weeks of September, the most likely time for a hurricane or tropical storm. Be prepared for these storms by having an emergency kit, stocking up on sandbags if you live in an area prone to flooding, clearing debris from storm drains and gutters,and cutting back tree limbs and branches on your property.
Welcome to "What's New in Alexandria," a bi-weekly program highlighting upcoming events, activities, and news in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. In this edition: Festival of the Arts, Mosquito Control, Emergency Preparedness, Thomas Jefferson Letter, Community Gardens, and Mentoring.
Alexandria's 8th annual Festival of the Arts will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 11-12. The event transforms King Street into a world-class outdoor art gallery with over 200 artists and $15 million in artwork for sale. Festival booths will line King Street between South Washington Street and the Alexandria waterfront, showcasing over six blocks of artwork.
Treat your pooch to a summertime dip at Alexandria's 7th Annual Doggie Day Swim on Tuesday, September 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Old Town Pool, 1609 Cameron St. This event celebrates the end of summer pool season, and provides dogs with the opportunity to swim and play games in one of the City's pools.
Do you know an Alexandria restaurant that has gone the extra mile to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations? Nominate them for an Eco-Friendly Restaurant Award today.
Asian Tiger mosquito collections in the 1600 block of Dewitt Avenue have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, marking the City's first reported activity of the virus in this species for 2010. The mosquitoes were collected by the Alexandria Health Department on August 10, after strong storms left standing water and damage throughout the area. Learn what you can do to prevent mosquito-borne disease.
Many City programs need volunteers to help provide services to residents. Learn more about the numerous opportunities to get involved in serving your community today!
Alexandria's Fall Recreation Program Guide is now available, featuring new classes such as Water Walking, Zumba, drop-in Aqua Exercise, Youth Music, Family Dog, and more! Registration for fall 2010 classes begins Wednesday, August 25 for City residents and Friday, August 27 for nonresidents.
FYI Alexandria is the City's official resident newsletter, and is distributed electronically via eNews subscription and the City's website. The July edition features stories about Potomac Yard redevelopment, the new Edmonson Plaza (and the history behind it), the City's Strategic Plan, a West End "fish story," and the newest farmers' market in town.
The City will begin resurfacing King Street starting July 12, between Columbus Street and the King Street Metro. The first phase of work will be curb and gutter repairs and new ADA accessible ramps at crosswalks. The work is scheduled weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the next eight weeks.
Enjoy the season's fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and more at Alexandria's farmers' markets! The King Street Fresh Farmers' market is open on Wednesdays to serve weekday shoppers. On weekends, the Market Square and Del Ray markets are year round on Saturdays; the West End Farmers' Market and the Four Mile Run Farmers' and Artisans Market are open on Sundays.
The City of Alexandria does not operate any public utilities. The following companies are the primary providers of their respective servers. Some of these services may also be available from other providers.
The City of Alexandria does not operate any public utilities. The following companies are the primary providers of their respective servers. Some of these services may also be available from other providers.
For water main problems or other water problems, contact Virginia American Water at (800.452.6863)
For problems with phone or Internet service, contact Verizon at (800.837.4966)
For cable-related issues, contact Comcastat (800.266.2278)
For power outages power line issues, or for miscellaneous items to be removed from power lines, contact Dominion Virginia Power at (888.667.4357)
If you smell gas, leave the area immediately and contact Washington Gas at (703.750.1000)
Transportation & Parking Air, bus, rail, highway, King Street Trolley, parking, biking and walking trails, and alternative transportation.
Public Transportation - Air, bus, rail, and highway transportation serving the City of Alexandria.
Parking - Find parking locations in Alexandria, pay or contest parking tickets, parking permits, reserved parking.
King Street Trolley - Alexandria's free trolley service connects the Potomac River to the King Street Metro station.
Local Motion - Biking and walking trails and tours, alternative transportation, regional transportation resources.
Public Works Refuse and trash collection, recycling collection and guidelines, snow removal, hazardous waste disposal.
Recycling - Curbside recycling guidelines and pickup schedule, City recycling centers, request a recycling bin and more.
Refuse & Trash - Solid waste services, refuse collection schedule, leaf mulch, composting, household hazardous waste, spring clean-up and more.
Snow & Ice Control - Removal of snow and ice from public roads, sidewalks, walkways, and parking lots.
Public Safety Emergency preparedness, Citizen Corps Council, Police, Fire, Sheriff.
Emergency Preparedness - Be Ready Alexandria! Emergency management, fire safety, and disaster emergency information.
Citizen Corps Council - Preparedness and volunteerism efforts, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS).
Fire - Fire suppression, emergency medical services, code administration, emergency management, marine operations, haz-mat response, fire stations.
Sheriff - Detention Center, courthouse and courtroom security, service of all court legal documents, execution of court orders, transportation of prisoners, execution of arrest warrants, general public safety and law enforcement.
Ethanol Transloading Information - The City's actions regarding the Norfolk Southern Corporation's Ethanol Transloading Facility, which began operation in April 2008.
Planning & Development Neighborhood planning, development projects, historic preservation, green buildings, design guidelines.
Development - Recent and ongoing community development projects, green buildings, design guidelines.
GIS - Geographic Information Systems, standard and interactive City maps.
Neighborhood Planning - Community-based long range planning, community involvement, Alexandria master plan.
Alexandria Railroad Bridge Replacement - CSX, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation are partnering with VRE and Amtrak to improve passenger service by constructing a new railroad bridge in Alexandria near 4500 Wheeler Ave.
Health & Human Services Housing, human services, human rights, environmental health, mental health, substance abuse.
Consumer Affairs - Consumer and business complaint mediation, consumer advice and education, and more.
Health - Environmental health, medical services, vaccinations, mosquito control, vital records, family planning and much more.
Housing - Affordable housing, landlord-tenant relations, foreclosure prevention, tax relief and assistance, ARHA and more.
Human Rights - ADA Compliance, accomodating persons with disabilities, discrimination, sexual harassment, Human Rights Code, complaints, investigations and more.
Human Services - Family services, child care, JobLink, foster care, child welfare, aging and adult services, youth programs and much more.
Mental Health - Substance abuse, mental health, mental retardation, depression, anxiety, Community Services Board and more.
Services for Seniors Citizens - Office of Aging & Adult Services, rent relief program, adult day service center, adult protective services, home delivered meals, companion services and more.
Environment "Green" initiatives, air quality, noise, water conservation, mosquito and rodent control.
Eco-City Alexandria - Learn more about what the City is doing to become a more "green" Alexandria and how you can participate.Environmental Quality - Air quality, water conservation, noise control, contaminated lands, watershed management, and more.Mosquito Control - Preventing mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus, eliminating mosquito breeding habitats.
Rodent Control - Proactive programs and general information to control the rodent population.
For information about visiting Alexandria, go to VisitAlexandriaVA.com for shopping, dining, attractions, accommodations, evens listings and more. Plan your visit with the itinerary builder and interactive maps, then book a hotel room and make online restaurant reservations.
Shop, Dine, Stay, Celebrate! Historic boutiques and art galleries; unique restaurants and outdoor dining; historic, state of the art, and pet-friendly hotels; events and activities for the whole family.
Shop - Antiques, art galleries, boutiques, crafts, special gifts and more offered by Alexandria's unique shopping experience.
Dine - Alexandria offers an array of restaurants to meet every taste. Outdoor dining, unique locations, pet-friendly restaurants and more.
Stay - Accomodations featuring European-style manor houses, mid-size, full-service, dog friendly hotels or a state-of-the-art resort and conference hotel, all with reasonable rates.
Celebrate - Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association (ACVA) calendar of events and activities.
Farmers' Markets - Farmer's Markets are held in Old Town, Del Ray, in the Upper King Street area, and on the City's West End.
Historic Alexandria Alexandria Visitor's Center, Alexandria's rich history, museums, and historic attractions.
Museums and Historic Attractions - Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Alexandria Archaeology, Fort Ward Museum, Black History Museum, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Carlyle House, Freedom House Museum, George Washington Masonic National Memorial and more.
History of Alexandria - Learn about the historic City of Alexandria, established in 1749.
Ask Alex Cell Tours - Experience history from the comforts of your cell phone!
Parks & Recreation Parks, dog parks, bike trails, City marina, athletic fields, swimming pools, nature centers, facility rentals, neighborhood centers.
Parks - Park locations, open space, pocket parks, City marina, athletic fields, outdoor courts, dog parks and more.
Recreation Centers - Neighborhood centers, adult centers, nature centers, swimming pools, facility rentals and more.
Biking & Walking - City biking and walking trail maps and resources.
Transportation & Parking Air, bus, rail, highway, King Street Trolley, parking, biking and walking trails, and alternative transportation.
Public Transportation - Air, bus, rail, and highway transportation serving the City of Alexandria.
King Street Trolley - Alexandria's free trolley service connects the Potomac River to the King Street Metro station.
Parking - Find parking locations in historic Old Town Alexandria.
Local Motion - Biking and walking trails and tours, alternative transportation options, and regional transportation resources.
The Office of Building and Fire Code Administration has launched a comprehensive page providing daily activity updates. The new page provides information on daily inspection load, staffing levels, plan review progress, and activities in each division.
Small Business Resource guide, available space, comparative costs, consumer affairs.
Small Business Guide - Learn how to establish a small business in the City of Alexandria.
Available Space - Diverse development and land use opportunities for retail, office, industrial, restaurants and more.
Economic Indicators (LEIRS) - Information about employment, the office, industrial and residential markets, construction, transit ridership, retail sales, meals and lodging tax, hotel occupancy and more.
Real Estate & Taxes Payments, assessments, appraisals, property and sales data, tax maps and guides, vehicle registration.
Payments - Pay real estate or personal property taxes, parking tickets, buy tickets, or make contributions to charitable programs and events.
Real Estate Assessments - Parcel appraisals, property and sales data, assessment information and appeals, tax maps and more.
Real Estate Taxes - Real estate assessment, computation and collection of tax, payment methods, contact information and more.
Personal Property Tax - Vehicle tax assessment, City decals, residential parking, exemptions and more.
Business Personal Property Tax - Filing procedures, computation and collection of tax, taxpayer assistance, tax forms, proration policy.
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.jpg "Alexandria's 8th annual Festival of the Arts will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 11-12. The event transforms King Street into a world-class outdoor art gallery with over 200 artists and $15 million in artwork for sale. Festival booths will line King Street between South Washington Street and the Alexandria waterfront, showcasing over six blocks of artwork.")
